Dancing
across Canada
by
Johann DeWolfe
The
La Danse presentation, featuring 250 Canadians touring Canada,
made its way to Calgary, August 5th as a symbolic courtship between
French and English Canada.
David Damien and the Watchmen for the Nations group, along with
several Canadian pastors and Christian leaders, visited 12 cities
across Canada this summer.
A
large and enthusiastic, standing-room only crowd gathered in Calgary
at the University’s MacEwan Hall and was welcomed by a group
of First Nations and three local MP’s. Calgary marked the
9th city on the tour.
Its purpose was to use the Arts to proclaim the healing and acceptance
between the English and French in this country.
The tour, under preparation for over a year, was launched at the
Gathering in Charlottetown in August 2002.
La Danse was presented as a courtship dance preceding the wedding
ceremony that signifies a holy union. Guests of La Danse included
David Damien, Dick and Joan Dewert, Craig Buroker, Alaine Caron
and Len Zoeteman. David Maines made a special appearance along
with various other city and government officials.
The dance brought to the forefront the need for all Canadians
to embrace each other as one in Christ, regardless of ethnic background.
It was an opportunity to celebrate a common heritage as Christians
while embracing each other’s differences.
Great detail was taken into account for the choreography of the
various dances, each with special significance and equally necessary
to fully portray the healing journey.
Along with the dance portions, many different speakers provided
some of the founding and historical background into the French/English
divisions.
French Canadians, throughout all of Canada, have experienced many
forms of victimization and in order to heal and become whole,
they must find a way to express their voice and re-establish communication,
which ultimately leads to repentance and forgiveness.
The La Danse team went on from Calgary to Kelowna and Vancouver,
wrapping up the 12-city tour in Victoria.
To find out more about La Danse, visit their website at www.ladanse.ca.
